Motor-control system.



W. U. YATES.

MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION IIILED JULY 2, 1912.

Patented Nov.4, 1913.

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1'') STATES PATENT oF'FToE.

WILLIAM 0. YATES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL ELEOTRIG COMPANY,

- A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTOR-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913 New York, county of New York, Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor- Control Systems, of which the following is a specification. t

This invention relates to the control of electric motors and has for its object the provision of means whereby an electriomotor may be started, stopped and generally controlled under abnormal circuit conditions in a reliable and eflicient manner.

In the dynamic braking of electric motors it is sometimes necessary to throw a very heavy overload upon the motor during the starting operation. In such cases it is also sometimes desirable to provide for the stopping of the motor upon a smaller overload than occurs at starting. If this overload device were operatively connected in circuit during starting it would of course operate to open the motor circuit so as to prevent the starting of the motor. A condition of this kind sometimes occurs in the case of a motor operatedvalve. These valves are frequently jammed closed and require several times the normal running current to start them. The motor is generally designed to stand this heavy overload and in fact may be connected across the llllfi without damage. In closing the valve it is customary to provide an overload device which will open the motor circuit when the valve has been seated with a predetermined PI'QSSUIOr Since'it takes much more power to start the valve from closed position than it does to closeit, this overload device must operate at a less overload than would occur during starting.

One of the objects of m nvention is to provide a simple and efiicient arrangement of this character which will not open during a heavy overload such as may .occur during the starting operation but will be-- come operative to stop the motor upon the appearance of a second predetermined overload.

Other objects and purposes of my invention will appear in the course of the following specification in which I have shown my invention embodied in concrete form for purposes of illustration. I

. Referring to the drawin it will be seen that I have illustrated my invention in connection with a motor for opening and closing a valve. A represents the armature of the motor to be controlled. .This motor I have shown as being compound wound, since by suitably compounding the motor it may be connected directly across the line without the use of starting resistance.

F re resents the series field and F the shunt eld of the motor.

For purposes of illustration I have shown the motor as being started without any starting resistance although my invention is not limited in this respect. An electro-magnetic switch or contact-or 10, controlled by a normally open pushbutton 11, is arranged to close the motor circuit. This contactor is provided with an interlocking contact 12 which when the contactor closes short circuits the push button 11 and the other control switches.

13 represents the overload device consisting of the winding 14: in series with the motor armature, and a pivoted member 15 operated thereby. This overload device opcrates to open and close the circuit of the winding of the contactor 10 by means of a switch 16 normally closed by means of a spring 17 and arranged to be opened by the engagement of the member 15 with the switch 16, as shown in the drawing. The' Winding 14 is connected permanently in series with the motor armature so that upon a rush of current incident to the starting of the motor the overload device would normally operate unless restrained. In order to revent the operation of this overload device I have shown for purposes of illustration a pivoted latch 18 held in the pos1- tion shown in the drawing to lock the device against movement 'by a spring 19. This latch is operated to release the overload device by an electromagnetic device 20 wh ch as illustrated also has a winding in ser es with the motor armature. Although my 1nvention is not limited to this particular form otr'eleasing device I have shown for purposes of illustration a dev1ce operating on the'principle of the series contactor, de-

' scribed and claimed in application of Edwin .valve stem. These switches do not sto J. Murphy, Serial No. 608,652, filed February 15, 1 911. In the arrangement of this device upon a rush of current through the winding 21 the movable member 22 will not operate, but when the current decreases to a predetermined value due'to the speeding up of the armature the member 22 will op erate. The member 22 consists of the bell crank lever pivoted at 23, the lever normally assuming the position shown in the drawing. Upon a rush of current above a predetermined value, the lever will be held in its normal position as shown in the drawing, by the magnetic attraction across the air gap 24 .due to the presence of the magnetic shunt 24' of limited magnetic carrying capacity. When, however, thecurrent in the winding 21 decreases to the predetermined value, the member 22 will be turned on its pivot in a clockwise direction so as to operate the latch 18 against the tension of the spring 19. This will permit the member 15 of the overload device 13 to operate to open the switch17, which in turn will open the otor circuit at the con tactor 10. A doub pole reversing switch 25 for the motor armature is mechanically connected with a single pole switch 26 controlling the circuit of the energizing Winding of the contactor 10so that the two switches will operate together.

27 represents the valve stem and 28 and 29 represent limit switches operated by the the motor but serve to prevent the contro circuit being closed by the push button except to start the motor in the right direction.

As thus constructed and arranged, the operation of my device will be as follows: Assuming the parts are in the position shown in the drawing with the valve in the open position, when the push button 11 is closed by the operator the winding of the contactor 10 will be energized from the positive side of the line through the switch 26 and limit switch 29, contacts of switch 11, switch 16, wlnding of contactor 10 and back to the negative side of the line. This will cause the contactor to close the motor circuit from the positive side of the line, through one side of switch 25, motor armature A, opposite side of switch 25, series field F, through the 'windings 21 and 14 and the contacts of the contactor to the negative side of the line. The closing of the interlock contacts 12 short circuits the push button switch 11 and switches 26 and 29 so that these switches no longer have any control over the contactor. When the motor circuit is first closed there is a heavy rush of current especially since there is no starting resistance in series with the armature, the resistance of the windings 21 and 14 being negli ible. Since the motor. armature is connecte to the valve, which may be jammed closed, the current may be several times the normal running current. The winding 21, however, does not operate the lever 22 since it is adjusted to hold out at this current. The overload device is therefore locked against closure during this starting operation. When, however, the motor comes up to speed so as to decrease the current inthe winding 21, the member 22 will be operated due to the decrease of the flux across the gap 24 and the latch 18 will be operated to release the member 13.- The motor will now run normally to move the valve towardclosed position. When the full closed position is reached the motor will be stop ed by pressing the valve against its seat su iciently to cause an overload on the motor which will operate. the overload dc vice 13. This overload device is set to operate at a suitable pressure upon the valve seat and the operation of the overload device willsto the motor when this pressure is reached. W en the valve starts to leave the open position the-:limit switch .28 will be closed by its springdso as to permit. operation in an opening direction.- When. the

valve reaches full closed position, the limit.

switch 29 is opened to prevent an attempt at further movement in a closing direction. To open the valve the switch 25 and the switch 26 will be thrown to the opposite position andthe push button closed, whereupon. the contactor 10.. will be energized from the positive side of the line through limit switch 28 which is now closed, push button 11, switch l6,=winding'otocntactor 10 and back to the negative side of the line. This: closes the motor circuit for opposite direction of rotation to open the valve and when the full OPGII'POSltIOII is reached the overload device will operate to stop the motor as before. j I

While I have described. my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggestthemselves to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention,

the sec e of which is set forth in the annetic device actuated by the motor current for rendering the same operative, said electromagnetic device being mactive during the starting of the motor.

2. The combination with an electric motor, of an overload device for. stopping the same upon a predetermined current flow,

means for locking said device against operation during the starting of the motor, and

an electromagnetic device which is inactive during the starting of the motor for releasing said overload device.

3. The combination with an electric motor, of an overload device for stopping the same u on a predetermined current flow,

the starting current of the'motor .for stopping'the motor, said overload device being inoperative during the starting of the motor rendered operative by the actuation of said electromagnetic device.

5. The combination with an electric motor, of an overload device for stoppingthe same upon a predetermined current flow, means for rendering said device inoperative upon a heavier current flow and an electromagnetic device having an actuating windmg permanently in series with the motor armature and the winding of said overload device for rendering said overload device operative, said electromagnetic device being inactive during the heavier current flow.

6. The combination with an electric motor, of an overload device for stopping the means for locking said device against operation upon a heavier current flow, an electromagnetid device having an actuating winding in series with the motor armature vfor releasing said [overload device, said electromagnetic device being inactive during the heavier current flow.

7; The'combination with an electric inotor, of an overload device for stopping the same u on a predeterminedcurrent flow, means or locking said device against operation during the starting of the motor, and an electromagnetic device having an actuating winding permanently in series with the motor armature and the winding of said overload device for releasing said overload device, said electromagnetic device being inactive during the starting of the motor.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of June, 1912.

WILLIAM C. YATES. lVitnesses: I

' SUMNER BOWMAN, PETER J. McCoY, J r.

same upon a predetermined current flow, 

